The Berlin Social Support Scales: Validation of the Received Support Scale in a Canadian sample of patients affected by melanoma

The Role of Resilience in the Relationship between Sociodemographic, Clinical Characteristics, and Social Support among Breast Cancer Patients in Serbia

BACKGROUND

The management of breast cancer treatments within the limitations of family, social, and professional life is emotionally burdening and negatively affects physical, psychological, and social well-being, reducing the overall quality of life of patients and their families.

METHODS

This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted from March to August 2023 at the "Dr. Radivoj Simonović" General Hospital in Sombor. A total of 236 breast cancer patients participated in this study. The research was conducted using the following instruments: a questionnaire on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients, the Berlin Social-Support Scales-for assessing social support-and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-for assessing resilience. This study aimed to determine the predictors and levels of social support and resilience of breast cancer patients. We also wanted to examine whether resilience is a mediator between patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and levels of social support.

RESULTS

The total average value of social support was 3.51 ± 0.63, while on the resilience scale, the respondents achieved a total average score of 52.2 ± 9.63. Perceived and actually received social support of breast cancer patients were positively correlated with resilience [p < 0.01], while no statistically significant correlations were found for the need for support and satisfaction. The sets of predictors can significantly predict their effects on all types of perceived social support (emotional social support: 9%; perceived instrumental social support: 9%) and all types of received social support (actually received emotional social support: 8%; actually received instrumental social support: 7%; actually received informational social support: 8%). There is a potential mediating role of resilience in relation to sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, and the need for support.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms that a strong connection exists between social support and resilience. However, the analysis did not confirm the mediating role of resilience between the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on the one hand and social support on the other.

Decision-making process of breastfeeding behavior in mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus based on health belief model

BACKGROUND

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) threatens GDM mothers and their offspring's health and breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to decrease the risk. However, the prevalence of breastfeeding among GDM mothers is far from optimal and how GDM mothers develop their feeding behavior is still unclear. Thus, this study aimed to explore the formation of GDM mothers' breastfeeding behaviors based on the health belief model (HBM).

METHODS

A questionnaire survey was conducted on 324 GDM mothers who have given birth within 6 months from January 1 to February 6, 2022. According to HBM, GDM mothers' knowledge, the perceived threat from GDM, the perceived value of breastfeeding, self-efficacy, social support and GDM mothers' breastfeeding behavior were measured. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) was defined as an infant who received only breast milk in the past 24 h before the survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to explore how GDM mothers form their breastfeeding behaviors based on HBM.

RESULTS

The prevalence of EBF among GDM mothers was 33.95%. GDM mothers had limited knowledge of GDM (average 63.14% correct answer to 7 questions), especially poor on the long-term effect of GDM (39.81%) and protective effect of breastfeeding (34.57%-45.99%). Although GDM mothers showed high perceived benefits (Mean: 3.35, SD: 0.46), high self-efficacy (Mean: 3.43, SD: 0.97) and high level of social support for breastfeeding (Mean: 3.74, SD: 0.74), the various barriers (Mean: 2.20, SD: 0.47) hindered their success in EBF. The SEM results showed that a higher level of social support and more self-efficacy of breastfeeding resulted in a higher likelihood of EBF, while the higher level of knowledge of GDM, perceived higher barriers and benefits of breastfeeding and higher susceptibility to GDM consequences led to less EBF.

CONCLUSION

To promote EBF, physicians' education, emphasizing the protective effect of breastfeeding and how to correct breastfeeding, is highly recommended. In addition, social support for GDM mothers is also important to reduce their barriers to breastfeeding and help enhance self-efficacy in breastfeeding.

Determinants of Post-Traumatic Growth and Quality of Life in Ghanaian Breast Cancer Survivors

This study assessed the psychosocial factors associated with post-traumatic growth (PTG) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women breast cancer survivors. Women (N = 128) completed questionnaires on social support, religiosity, hope, optimism, benefit-finding, PTG and HRQoL. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Results showed that perceived social support, religiosity, hope, optimism, and benefit finding were positively associated with PTG. Religiosity and PTG were positively associated with HRQoL. The results suggest that interventions aimed at increasing religiosity, hope, optimism, and perceived support can help survivors cope better with breast cancer.

'With a Little Help from My Friends': Emotional Intelligence, Social Support, and Distress during the COVID-19 Outbreak

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a global existential social and health challenge, with individuals suffering mentally and psychologically. College and university students are young adults, typically away from their natural support systems; with pandemic-imposed measures such as isolation, they may have been at higher risk of experiencing negative psychological outcomes. The study tested a model in which social support mediated the association between emotional intelligence (EI) and a latent factor representing general mental distress at the height of the COVID-19 crisis in Poland. One hundred and fifty-nine young adults filled in measures of trait EI, psychological and instrumental social support, three distress measures (depression, anxiety, and stress), and demographics. The results supported a model in which psychological social support (but not instrumental social support) mediated the association between trait EI and a factor representing all three distress measures. The results shed light on how individual and social resources work together to help maintain psychological integrity in times of crisis. They add to recent results on the differential effects of psychological-emotional and instrumental social support on distress and well-being.

How Do Perceived Social Support and Community Social Network Alleviate Psychological Distress During COVID-19 Lockdown? The Mediating Role of Residents' Epidemic Prevention Capability

Aim

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China adopted community isolation management measures. During the "lockdown" period, urban communities were the most basic prevention and control unit for the epidemic. The effectiveness of community epidemic prevention directly affects the spread of the virus and social stability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the status quo and influencing factors of psychological distress.

Methods

For this study, 1,430 community households were randomly selected in key cities affected by the epidemic, and a questionnaire survey was administered during the lockdown period. A structural equation model was used to analyse the influencing factors of community epidemic prevention effects. A total of 1,326 valid questionnaires were collected, with a valid response rate of 92.73%.

Results

In this study, the differences in psychological distress among different community types were statistically significant (t = 58.41, P < 0.01). The results showed that epidemic prevention capability played a mediating role. The results of the high-order structural equation model analysis showed that perceived social support (β = -0.275, P = 0.000) and community social network (β = -0.296, P < 0.01) were significantly negatively correlated with psychological distress.

Conclusions

Community social support indirectly relieves psychological anxiety and improves the effect of epidemic prevention by enhancing residents' ability to prevent epidemics. The community social network help residents reduce the risk of outbreaks and indirectly alleviate psychological distress.

The influence of family social support on quality of life of informal caregivers of cancer patients

AIM

Caregivers of cancer patients are at high risk of experiencing impairments in terms of anxiety, depression and quality of life. This study examines the mediation capacity that perceived emotional support can have after diagnosis and six months later between depression and anxiety after diagnosis and quality of life in informal caregivers of cancer patients.

DESIGN

A sample of 67 informal caregivers of cancer patients was used. This study is longitudinal, ex post facto prospective, with convenience sampling.

METHODS

Participants completed the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Berlin Social Support Scale (BSSS) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data were collected between March 2017 and November 2018.

RESULTS

Spearman's correlation analysis showed that anxiety, depression and perceived emotional support were related to quality of life. The mediation analysis showed that the relationship between depression after diagnosis and quality of life six months later was mediated by perceived emotional support.

Days of worry: Emotional intelligence and social support mediate worry in the COVID-19 pandemic

This study tested a model accounting for worries among 275 adults during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. The main hypothesis posited that psychological and instrumental social support will mediate the association between emotional intelligence and worry, controlling for the level of exposure to the virus risk and demographics. The results showed that social support mediated the above association: social support showed a negative association with worries while instrumental support showed a positive one. The results are discussed in light of existing findings and theories.

Skin Self-Examination: Partner Comfort and Support During Examinations as Predictors of Self-Efficacy in Patients At Risk for Melanoma Recurrence

BACKGROUND

Skin self-examination (SSE) is an effective method for melanoma survivors to detect potential cancerous growths sooner.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the SSE self-efficacy of patients with melanoma and their partners is affected by their partners' comfort and support during skin examinations.

METHODS

100 patient-partner dyads completed a 25-item sociodemographic questionnaire. Fifty-two partners attended an education session with the patient on skin examinations and the early detection of melanoma. All patients attended the education session.

FINDINGS

Having their partners attend the education session, as well as being supportive and comfortable with skin examinations, significantly predicted patients' self-efficacy with SSEs. In addition, male patients were found to be significantly more comfortable with partner-assisted skin examinations and reported feeling more supported by their partner than female patients.

Development and content validation of the Multifactoral assessment of perceived social support (MAPSS), a brief, patient-reported measure of social support for use in HIV care

Low perceived social support (SS) negatively impacts health outcomes. We developed a measure of perceived SS for use in HIV care. We sought and categorized legacy items, selecting strongest items within categories. We elicited SS concepts from patients in English/Spanish, coded transcripts to match item pool content, and developed new items for salient unrepresented content. In focus groups, patients prioritized highly-matched items. We conducted cognitive interviews on high-priority items, and validity testing on final items against two legacy measures. From interviews (n = 32), we matched the following concepts: sense of belonging/inclusion; communication; emotional support; feeling accepted by others as a person; companionship; and practical support. We identified a new concept: support from friends/family in remaining healthy. Focus groups (n = 23) prioritized emotional support, communication, and support to remain healthy. Cognitive interviews (n = 30) found items were well-understood. The final 8-item measure performed well with patients (n = 708), with good construct validity. We used an Item Response Theory program to create a 3-item Short Form version of the measure, which captures 96% of patients indicating low social support. We developed the Multifactoral Assessment of Perceived Social Support (MAPSS) and Short Form (MAPSS-SF); brief, clinically relevant, sufficiently unidimensional measures of SS for use in HIV care.

Received and perceived support subscales of the Berlin Social Support Scales in women diagnosed with breast cancer attending the breast clinic at Tygerberg hospital: structure and correlates

Research in the field of psycho-oncology in South Africa is increasing, and there is a need for validated measures that assess factors associated with cancer, such as social support. The Berlin Social Support Scales are a battery of instruments that measure various types and functions of social support. The measure was originally developed for use among adult cancer patients, and their partners but has also been used among other clinical populations and healthy adults. We investigated the psychometric properties of the English version of the perceived and received sub-scales, Berlin Social Support Scales. Our sample included South African women ( N = 201) who were diagnosed with breast cancer and receiving treatment at a public health care facility. We administered several measures, including a demographic questionnaire, the Berlin Social Support subscales, the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire, and The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy to participants. Validity and reliability analyses were conducted. Factor analysis resulted in the retention of 17 items that clustered on two factors, namely received support and perceived support. The 17-item version of the Berlin Social Support Scale demonstrated strong reliability and validity in the sample. The two subscales are quick to administer, easy to interpret, and are a reliable measure of social support among breast cancer patients in South Africa.